Also known as

竹下勇二郎

Description

Takeshita Isamu (January 5, 1870 – July 1, 1949) was a Japanese naval admiral and diplomat. As Japan's naval attaché to the United States, he arranged for Yoshiaki Yamashita to teach judo to President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House in 1904. He later became a student of Morihei Ueshiba in aikido at the Kobukan dojo and demonstrated aikibudo in North America in 1935. He was the first president of the Kobukai Foundation and chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. Born Yamamoto, he was adopted into the Takeshita family as a boy.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Yamashita Yoshitsugu

  sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō Probable

  Probable

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1904–1905)

  at Roosevelt's White House Judo Course

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Takeshita's own quoted recollection confirms he and Roosevelt took judo lessons from Yamashita in the White House

  “We had engaged Mr. Y. Yamashita, an expert on judo or jiu jitsu, from Japan as our instructor, and we, Mr. Roosevelt and I, used to take lessons in jiu jitsu very often in his library on the second floor of the White House.”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info
• 
  Ueshiba Morihei

  sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed

  Confirmed

  Two sources explicitly identify Takeshita as a student of Ueshiba at the Kobukan from 1925, recording detailed notes of classes

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  location_onKobukan dojo badge (1925–1935)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Two sources explicitly identify Takeshita as a student of Ueshiba at the Kobukan from 1925, recording detailed notes of classes

  “Takeshita became a patron and enthusiastic student of Morihei UESHIBA in 1925. He recorded hundreds of pages of detailed notes of classes taught by Ueshiba in the late 1920s to early 1930s.”

  — Gold, Josh. (2011-08-27). Isamu Takeshita 竹下勇 - Aikido Journal Encyclopedia. Aikido Journallink history info

  “in Tokyo he patronized a martial art dojo called the Kobukan. Methods taught at that school included aikibudo -- Morihei Ueshiba was the instructor”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info

Lineage

• Kōdōkan JūdōYamashita Yoshitsugu ← Kanō Jigorō · 2 generations

Honours (4)

• descriptionOrder of the Rising Sun, 1st class (Grand Cordon) Probable

  Probable

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Decoration (1920-09-07)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  “1920年（大正9年）9月7日 勲一等旭日大綬章”

  — 竹下勇 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
• descriptionOrder of the Rising Sun, 2nd class (Gold and Silver Star) Probable

  Probable

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Decoration (1915-11-07)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Listed in JA Wikipedia chronology of Takeshita's orders and decorations

  “1915年（大正4年）11月7日 旭日重光章”

  — 竹下勇 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info
• descriptionUS Distinguished Service Medal for service during World War I Probable

  Probable

  EQMAS article states Takeshita received the medal for his WWI diplomatic service

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Decoration (1920)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  EQMAS article states Takeshita received the medal for his WWI diplomatic service

  “For his service during World War I he received a Distinguished Service Medal from the United States”

  — Svinth, Joseph R.. (1999). Aikido Comes to America - September 1935. Journal of Combative Sportlink history info
• descriptionDeutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen (German Olympic Decoration) Probable

  Probable

  JA Wikipedia's own honors listing directly records the decoration and date

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Decoration (1937)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  JA Wikipedia's own honors listing directly records the decoration and date

  “1937年（昭和12年）6月3日 ドイツ国 オリンピック名誉章”

  — 竹下勇 - Wikipedia (JA). Wikipedia (Japanese) link history info

Sources

Identifiers